White Room

About the White Room

The White Room provides current information relating to new technologies for energy efficiency. Stay connected with the latest news, events, and scientific breakthroughs in this fast moving sector. Use our filters on the left or click here to send a suggestion for content to add.

According to the ACEEE, utility companies can save 27 percent of forecasted electricity use and 19 percent of forecasted natural gas use by 2030 with next-generation energy-efficiency technologies and programs.

Sales of bulbs using light-emitting diodes are expected to increase sharply -- partly because some consumers complain about the bluish light produced by another energy-saving variety, compact fluorescents.

In 2011, utilities interconnected more than 62,000 PV systems, according to new findings by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). These new systems resulted in almost 1,500 megawatts of new utility solar capacity, over twice as much as was added in 2010, which itself had been a record year.

After Hurricane Sandy, Washington DC electricity company, Pepco, was able to restore power to most of the area's residents the same day they lost it. The utility was able to do this by "pinging" meters to verify service.

By the end of the year, China’s electric grid will become the largest in the world in terms of both installed generation capacity and electricity produced. Additionally, China is expected to have one of the largest energy storage capacities by 2016.

Data centers have become increasingly important as more information is shared and put online. Yet, a recent study found that data centers can waste 90% or more of electricity. This NY Times article examines the energy use, pollution, and the need to better the energy efficiency of data centers.

“What would our energy system look like if the move to a low-carbon society wasn’t left to governments and big energy companies but was instead led by civil society?” – asks Dr. Stephen Hall, a Research Fellow in energy economics and policy at the University of Leeds (UK).